CMFL BLACK DRAGON SOUTH

For the second Saturday running the Eagles stormed out of the gate looking like a side capable of taking a game by the scruff only to end up involved in a tight 2-1 affair which this time thankfully fell the maroon’s way.

Arnold line up:- Jack Walker, Greg Conn, Jamie Thomas, Ruban Mitchell, Aaron Ryan, Tom Coupe, Chay Bettridge, Kurt Harrison, Ashley Foster, Harry Allen, Rory Smith
Subs Used James Wade (for Mitchell) Jack Patterson (for Harrison) Jack McLachlan (for Allen)
Unused Sub - David Marlow

Attacking the Oxton Road end with the strong breeze behind them Arnold’s early efforts began with a Harry Allen effort saved at close range by the advancing Hosiery Mill’s keeper’s legs. The Eagles had the ball in the net on 9 mins but the headed effort was correctly ruled out for offside. Next came a curled shot by Ruban Mitchell from the edge of the area which was comfortably gathered by the busy Mansfield goalie.

The Eagles’ early supremacy began to melt away however and they were lucky to survive a scare on the twenty-minute mark. Jack Walker failed to take command of his box and a clever chip by the visiting number 10 looked goal bound before being hurriedly headed away from underneath the Colin End bar.

An encouraged Mansfield pushed on shifting the games momentum more in their favour causing another mass panic in Arnold’s area following a corner on 27 mins when the ball was again quickly cleared away from the goal line. Then on the half hour Hosiery Mills had the ball in the net after Walker failed to connect with another cross only for the Assistant Linesman to rescue the home side by raising his flag for an offside infringement which we couldn’t see from the other end of the ground.

Having survived an extremely shaky period the Eagles took the lead just a couple of minutes later. A clumsy challenge on the edge of the Oxton Road area saw the visitors remonstrating in vain with the referee. Before Mansfield knew what was happening the Eagles’ restarted play while discussions continued by pushing the ball into the area where the alert Rory Smith latched onto it before finding the right-hand corner of the net. Opening the scoring as he had done at Pinxton the previous week.

Confidence restored by their goal the Eagles finished the half much the stronger side with Ashley Foster causing the visiting defence particular problems and a little unlucky not to double the home side’s advantage going into the break.

The second half began with Mansfield firmly back in the driving seat and enjoying the bulk of possession whilst Harry Allen ploughed a lone furrow up front on the rare occasion the Eagles managed to break free.

After some telling full length diving stops by Walker the Sutton based side eventually got their deserved equaliser just after the hour mark. A long throw in from the right found Mansfield centre forward Blake Vincent unmarked on the six yard line allowing him to power home his header and level the score.

Arna’s Jake Walker continued to be the busier keeper as his goal was bombarded with a succession of long-range efforts with the Eagles struggling to regain some momentum going forward. But thankfully aided with a couple of well timed substitutions the home side did find a way to turn the tide in their favour as the game drew to a close and were duly rewarded with a late winner.

With just minutes left it was Mansfield’s turn to have an unnerved defence as the busy Harry Allen made a nuisance of himself on the left hand side which ended up with Jamie Thomas skilfully nipping in at the near post and bobbing down to head the loose ball home from close range in a crowded box.

A hugely welcome three points for the home side but spare a thought for the visitors who, like the Arna at Pinxton, were left to wonder how they had managed to come away from such a topsy turvy game with nothing to show for their efforts.

On this evidence the latest brand of Snipes appear more than capable of making CML South teams work hard for their points this term.